Saturday, 29 May 2021

Ancestors moving pics

#TSL Pandorathon 29 When the ancestors left the photo frames at night .


They waited until I was snoring

Sure sign I was asleep

So they thought

But I was up to their tricks.


The first one to manifest herself

Was my grandmother

In her flapper gear

Leaving the stone bridge

She stood on across the lake

To the park island.

Mind you after a century 

One gets blasé 

Of the same landscape 

So one understand 

Her need to escape.


The second one

Was my mother

In her communion outfit

She couldn’t wait to get out of it

So unnatural it was

To her nature.


The third one was her cousin

In a bikini by the seashore

On the riviera, if you please,

Can you imagine

Spending fifty years 

On the shelf in that outfit?

It would drive someone 

Around the bend 

That’s a certainty.


Well the three of them

Swiftly disappeared 

From the bookshelf

When they came back 

My grandmother 

Had acquired an umbrella

Very wise woman indeed,

My mother had grown

Into a pink tailored suit

Even suitable in a church,

Her cousin though

Sported a fur coat and a fine hat

To hush all rumours of misbehaviour.



What had they been up to

I don’t know

But since that night

I keep replacing their pictures 

On a regular basis.


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved


 

Friday, 28 May 2021

Candles in the wind

 #TSL Pandorathon 28

May 28th - write a short story on the lyrics of the song Candle in the Wind by Elton John.


On the threshold of death

Days pass extinguished

As candles in the wind


On the threshold of death

Eternal Love choked 

As candles in the wind


On the threshold of death

Lives blotted out

As candles in the wind


On the threshold of death

History forgotten 

As candles in the wind


What are we 

That a breath of air

Is enough to smother us

As candles in the wind?


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 


Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Speed dating

 #TSL Pandorathon  27th Write a flash fiction on this saying by Bob Dylan - "you can't be wise and in love at the same time."


She said “ you know, you can’t be wise and in love at the same time”

He replied “That’s a saying from a young man, I can tell. He only knows one sort of love,

the superficial one. He ignores the one that is so deep it brings wisdom with it.”

“What do you mean?” she queried

“First you need to define love. The Ancient Greeks had seven, for example,

Then you need to define wisdom. Do you equate it only playing safe, 

 with taking no risk, for instance and”

“ I see this is going to take some time, not that we are on speed dating, but 

I’m afraid your allowed time is gone, thank you , I had a lovely time”

She left adding ” Next “.


Lucette C.Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

The dinner

 #TSL PANDORATHON 26 - write a poem based on the form of the dinner menu card in a hotel

————————-

Refuge for some is religion

Mine is food, I am afraid 

To say it is. When in need

I turn to the Book:

“ Le livre des menus” 

By whom else than Escoffier

Let’s open it to  May “Carte du jour”

Dinner it reads

Are you ready? Says the maître d’hôtel 

What starter would you like  tonight?

Hors-d’œuvre or potage?

I feel something light to start

What do you recommend?

That’s the way to the MD’s heart

He can show off his knowledge 

And then one can dream 

Should we try: I will translate for you 

As he spells out the menu

Tonight for hors-d’œuvre ,

We have a choice of

Quails eggs, caviar, cantaloupe,

Smoked salmon from the Netherlands,

King prawns in jelly,

Tomato mousseline with pigeon eggs,

Grilled pink shrimps with asparagus tips,

Ham from Westphalia .

Then you can shake your head

And ask innocently 

And for potage?

Oh, he loves it all

And there he goes lyrical

Ah let me see( it’s all comedy)

We have consommés:

Royale with lettuces,

Quenelles de volailles ,

Profiteroles , Portugaise,

Chicken pot, Spring ox-tail, 

Crawfish cream, curried chicken velouté,

Crècy potage, artichoke purée,

Cream of cresson and Sorel.

Now dear friends a word of advice 

Do not rush in to order


For unbeknown to you

There are the fish, the relevés,

The entrées, a buffet froid,

Roasts, salades, vegetables, 

Entremets and last but not least

The desserts to go through.

What a delightful show!

And now, you know, my friends

The how and why a simple meal 

Can take up to three hours

This is l’art de vivre!

Slow down and enjoy!

Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved



Monday, 24 May 2021

Reverse poem

 #TSL pandorathon 25

Write a reverse poem

—————————


I am an old woman

And I refuse to believe that

Life is more than one’s own age

I realise this may be a shock, but

To  pretend to feel like a teenager

Is a lie

Energy topped up daily is youth.


In ten years, I will tell my children that

I have my priorities straight because

Suffering

Is more important than

Loving.


I tell you this:

Once upon a time

Life was a short stroll

But this is no longer true in my time

Life is prolonged beyond expectations .


Experts tell me

I won’t live long 

I do not conclude that

It is for the best but

In the future,

Death will no longer hide itself.


No longer can it be said that

We need to choose it on demand 

It is evident that

Time has long betrayed us

It is foolish to presume that

Eternity will be ours.

————————————-


Reverse poem

————————————-

Eternity will be ours

It is foolish to presume that

Time has long betrayed us

It is evident that

We need to choose it on demand 

No longer can it be said that

Death will no longer hide itself

In the future.


It is for the best but

I do not conclude that

I won’t live long 

Experts tell me

Life is prolonged beyond expectations 

But this is no longer true in my time.


Life was a short stroll

Once upon a time.


I tell you this:

Loving

Is more important than

Suffering.


I have my priorities straight because

In ten years, I will tell my children that

Energy topped up daily is youth

Is a lie

To  pretend to feel like a teenager.


I realise this may be a shock, but

Life is more than one’s own age

And I refuse to believe that

I am an old woman.


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

Based on template by Susan Hendricks

Sunday, 23 May 2021

Pantoum

 #TSL pandorathon 24

Write a pantoum on any theme

—————————————-



Funny to write in someone else inspiration

Hugo and Baudelaire tremble in your tombs

Why did you bring us this abomination ?

Your words have long gone in fumes


Hugo and Baudelaire tremble in your tombs

For here I come mediocre poet

Why did you bring us this abomination ?

I better drown in Moët 


For here I come mediocre poet

With my crude rhyming wit

I better drown in Moët 

In shame to post my little bit


With my crude rhyming wit

I follow your instruction

In shame to post my little bit

Funny to write in someone else inspiration.



Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 





Saturday, 22 May 2021

The wooden box

#TSL pandorathon 22

As I prised open the wooden post, I gasped

————-


He had left me a wooden box

With the instruction

Keep it safe, do not open 

I nodded, put the box away.


My curiosity was triggered

Boredom made is purulent 

Why did it need to be kept safe?

What was in the box?


Lonesome I wondered

How long did I need to keep it ?

Why couldn’t I open it?

Was the content dangerous?


Questions with no answers

Were torture to my mind

I took the box from its hiding place

Under my bed if you want to know.


I turned it upside-down,

Shook it, it rattled somewhat

So there was something inside

I couldn’t stop myself


It was the month of Pandorathon 

After all and like Pandora

As I prised open the wooden box,

I gasped!

  


Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved 


 

Friday, 21 May 2021

No such thing as

 #TSL Pandorathon 21

A conversation between a free bird and a caged bird

———————-

I’ll like to change 

The bird for a woman 

If you don’t mind


So the premise becomes

A free woman and a caged woman

Now concerning the caged woman

We are all caged in our minds

Think about it

We are a good intelligent girl

We are a well bred young lady

We are a good mother

We are well conditioned 

To be comfortable with conformity

Might it be from patriarchy, religion,

Class or society

We follow, we are only too keen

To please being a woman.

We are made for we are never free.

We are never free to be,

We are never free to think,

There’s no such thing 

As a free woman.


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

Thursday, 20 May 2021

Not a pillow fight between a cat and a dog

 #TSL Pandorathon 20

 Not A pillow fight between a cat and a dog


In my household

There’s no pillow fight

Sure there’s a pecking order

Let me tell you about it:

The wild birds eat the chicken food

The chickens eat the cat food

The cat eats the dog food

The dog eats the human food

As to us we eat anything left!


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

Wednesday, 19 May 2021

A morning’s work

 #TSL PANDORATHON 19

She stood hypnotised, rooted to the spot

Use this sentence in a short fiction of 100 words.

——————

 The lounge was a disaster zone. The dog, her dog had gone berserk by the look of it. She stood hypnotised, rooted to the spot.

He was looking at her from the sofa amongst the remains of the cushions. “What did the agapanthus do to you? You had a bone of contention with it?” Books gnawed at, with pages ripped, strewn all over the carpet amidst the soil. She picked up one, War and Peace,  “ took me six months to go through it, you did it in less than two hours, you’re to be complimented. Mum too will be impressed!”


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

Sunday, 16 May 2021

A rapscallion sermon

 #TSL PANDORATHON 17: a rapscallion sermon


Brothers and sisters

You’re as surprised as I am

To find me here today

Delivering this sermon

But our dear father

Took an unlucky turn

In the cemetery earlier.


Distracted with his orison

To deliver, he stumbled

In a freshly dug grave

Do not fret he’s all right 

If a bit shaken.


He gave me his address 

To read to you, there

Let’s start, hmmmm, 

It’s about sin 

Oh, very tedious I’m afraid,

Ladida dada, humdrum

To tell you the truth.


SIN, brothers and sisters

Sin, we all did it

Sin, we all do it

Sin, is the spice of life

Sin, let’s continue doing it

Sin, I am all for it!


We are running short of time

Brothers and sisters

Let’s work on it

Lunch is rushing towards us

Let’s commit gluttony

Sin doesn’t wait!



Lucette C. Bailliet

All rights reserved 



A Gossipy Neighbour

 #TSL Pandorathon 16 : a gossipy neighbour


Oh dear, oh dear

I’m in such a hurry

I can’t stop really

But have you heard?

No, I’ll tell you what

They found Mike dead

Decapitated in his garden

Truth, I swear!

The saddest thing 

You know I spoke to him

Last Tuesday for a get together 

This weekend but he couldn’t make it

He said he had organised a weekend

With his girlfriend

Really when you’re eighty

You don’t have naughty girlfriend

Do you think it could be her?

No, surely but you never know

Yes, the police is all over town

People are already pointing

You know how people are, don’t you?

How did I learn it?

It was on the news tonight

I screamed my head off

When I realised whose picture It was, 

My family thought I’d gone crazy

They came running to check on me

‘Twas funny really.

 I see you’re picking up your bag,

You’re going somewhere

Oh, you’re going to the dentist

Well, I’m off then , see you soon!

Ta-Ta as they say.

My gossipy neighbour disappeared

I was in need of a serious cup of tea.


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

Saturday, 15 May 2021

A cauldron nocturnal monologue

#TSL PANDORATHON 16 :A cauldron’s nocturnal monologue 

—————————

Ouch! I am stuck here

On the top shelf

Dusty and rusty 

It’s my fault, I’ll admit it

I didn’t want to change

With the times

I thought I was perfect 

Everyone wanted me

Once upon a time.


Now look at those newcomers 

Don’t be shy, they won’t bite 

Touch their coating 

Smooth and glossy 

Ceramics, yep, ceramics 

And these ones there

Non stick surfacing 

Can’t ruin a thing.


From the microwave 

To the freezer 

No need to polish them either

How I miss those days

A lovely massage all over me

Given by a handsome lass

Those were the days! 


I was ready for duty

Months spent in the chimney

With the soup slowly

Simmering in my belly

Always ready to dispense 

A ladle or two of stew.


The kitchen was the place to be

I was it’s reigning glory

The centre of attention 

As soon as someone came in

They asked “what’s cooking?”


Well, that’s all finished

Nowadays they bring back boxes 

In the microwave they go

Can barely wait for its bell


They haven’t thrown me away

They think I bring un air 

Je ne sais quoi to their decor


I’m not complaining 

Another day, another nightYet. 


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 

Friday, 14 May 2021

Questions unanswered

 #TSL Pandorathon May 15th Prompt given by Ananya Dhawan : Write on the theme or topic "identity/self"


Who am I? What am I?

How do I define myself?

A lot of questions

I have no answers for

I’ll agree with you here: 

Rank laziness for sure

I am content to be 

It’s enough for me

I leave others to answer.


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved 



A fable : the kitten and the baby elephant

 #TSL Pandorathon May 14 When a kitten and a baby elephant became great friends


A fable


The village kids had thrown the bag in the river. By pure luck the kitten managed to get free but the current was too strong. It was buffeting the kitten all the way, in a bend of the river the kitten got carried near the bank but it being very steep and the kitten exhausted, it became quickly a no win situation. The bend in the river was used by the elephants as a water hole, they drank and bathed and love to play there. That afternoon’s being too hot to work the parade was there, and a small elephant was the first to spot the drowning kitten, never having seen one before it put its trunk around the kitten’s body and lifted it to have a better look at it. It was a miserable sight as you can imagine. The elephant youngster asked “ what kind of animal are you?” The kitten just answered by a piteously”miaow “, the mother of the elephant keeping an eye on her offspring told him ,” as it is alive take it to the bank”, which the obedient juvenile did, he deposited the drenched kitten on the verge of the bank. 

“ I’ m so cold” came a  wailing from the kitten, in truth it was trembling and shivering despite the heat of the day. The elephant youth not really knowing how it could help this unfortunate creature, blew on it through its trunk. And after a while a soft purring came from the not so longer wet body, it was turning to a puffy ball . “ thank you” said the kitten between two purrs, you saved my life today, I owe it to you, I shall pay you back i swear .”“Don’t be so silly” replied the young elephant amazed by the transformation which had taken form in front of him, I just blew on you”. From that day the kitten came back everyday to see the juvenile elephant, they became friends .

A few months passed, when one day, the kitten could hear violent trumpeting coming from the river bend. He was surprised by all the noise, but when he saw the cause of that ruckus, he felt like laughing,

All the great elephants were barracking around the youngsters, to protect them from a mice attack. It all like a river made of the smallest furry rodents. While the elephants could crush them under their feet , the mice were running between their legs to get to the juveniles. The kitten took its legs to its head and galloped away, the mother elephant “ Bar-umping,” here’s your friend , first spot of trouble and he disappears “, she had barely spoken , when who would be leading a pack of the most dangerous Tom cats living in the village but our little kitten, “ make haste, make haste” he was rushing his feral elders. It was all over in a few moments. The youngsters were saved, the kitten was deemed to be a hero in the parade’s memory, and never, ever did the elephant mum reproached the friendship between the kitten and her cub. 

The morale as this fable demonstrated is size does not matter when one is true to one’s word.

The end


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved

Wednesday, 12 May 2021

The form

 #TSL Pandorathon May 12 "He looked at her, his eyes twin dots of anger. " Write on it in any form you like but use a form of some sort and specify what your form is.


Use this line in your prose / poem 


“He looked at her,

His eyes twin dots of anger”

“Really there’s no need

To look at me like this

I only asked you a question”

He stayed silent

But he still had his murderous glance

One could follow his train of thought.

“Another one, who should not be here”

He shook his head:

“What was your question again?”

“My question was, and still is:

What are the different forms of prose?

I get it for poetry, one gets verses as in sonnet,

Villanelle, Ghazal, Haiku, ballade,

Ode and roseate 

where one has to write in a corset 

So to speak.

But I’m stuck on the prose question

They are different genres certainly 

But concerning prose except for direct speech 

Or indirect speech I can’t make it out.”

If he makes a moves towards me

I am out of here.

He inhaled deeply,

Exhaled slowly

“ take a seat” he said

Put his hands forming a steeple on the desk

“Open your notebook,

You’ll have a masterclass!”

Here goes my lunch

What a silly idiot, I am

Got caught again! 

He looked at her,

His eyes twin dots of anger. 



Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved








Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Which smile?

#TSL Pandorathon May 11 A heated discussion between a frown and a smile 


“Morning Sir Frown , once again I find you in a funky reverie “


"Not at all. I should imagine not, Lady Smile,

My mind was more agreeably engaged. 

I have been meditating 

On the very great pleasure which a smile 

In the face of a pretty woman can bestow." 


Lady Smile immediately fixed her eyes on his face, 

and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit 

Of inspiring such reflections. 


Sir Frown replied with great intrepidity:

 "You conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. 

I am fascinated by the three TSL ladies”


 "The three TSL ladies" repeated  Lady Smile 

"I am all astonishment. How long have they been such favourites?”


“Well, you may be. I’m in quandary to which has the best smile”


“So, this is the reason of your double frown?”


“ Reena Prasad, Gauri Dixit or Santosh Bakaya?”

My mind skips from one smile to another

And comes back to the first.

I really can’t decide!

So frustrating, you wouldn’t believe”


“From you, Sir Frown,  I can believe anything”


“ You may smile and tease me, Lady Smile 

But truly you aren’t helping”


“ May I suggest, Sir Frown, to sleep on it,

Only this will solve this dilemma 

Tomorrow the answer will be evident”


“ I think that the best commendation 

You’ve come up with so far,

I bid you good night, Lady Smile”



And Sir Frown walked away

The smile on Lady Smile faded slowly away.


Lucette C. Bailliet

With a little help from J. Austen

All rights reserved 




 

Sunday, 9 May 2021

A burnt toast

 #TSL

Pandorathon May 10  A burnt toast ruing its plight in poetic language 


I was ready for duty

To be golden and crusty

To bring joy and sustenance

I jumped happy in the toaster 

Fate was awaiting me

The dial was not fitted

To my delicate constitution 

I find myself discarded, left alone,

Burned, rejected, shamed,

To be thrown away, ostracised 

Even rodents won’t accept

A burnt crumb from me

Bitterness is not in fashion. 


Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved



Saturday, 8 May 2021

Stars reflection

 #TSL

Pandorathon May 9 When the stars found their glow being reflected in the gutter.

——————————

I just wonder in an idle way,

How Buckingham palace gutters

Differs from my own gutters?

Doesn’t the moon

Reflects the same way Down Under 

Than in a Northern gutter?

It doesn’t matter

As long as there is water

May it be clear or muddy

It will reflect the golden disk.


Now concerning the stars

That is a different story

I bet you that Buckingham Palace

Has never seen The Southern Cross

Reflection in its gutters

And I bet you

It will never see it happen,

That’s something the Royals,

As Royal as they may be

Will never have despite their might.


Do the stars mind ?

I don’t think they care

One iota or not

If truth be told!


As for poets, those damned souls

They prefer to scan the sky

For that elusive and temperamental muse

For very rarely she visits gutters.



Lucette C. Bailliet 

All rights reserved